A Good Starting Point:
Before getting into the books and videos I've gone through over the years, I want to start you off with the main website I go to for deer hunting and, more importantly, deer management. Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) has been the steady stream of information for me over the last few years. I used to bounce around between other websites that were full of more hunting only based information. I learned that you need to know more about deer to hunt them and manage their populations and habitat effectively. This breaks down to deer biology, sociology, habitat, behavior, etc. Deer hunting became more than determining the biggest buck's pattern in the area and setting up a stand or attempting a still hunt to try to outsmart some old big racked buck. Just as if I were going into a war zone, I wanted to know everything I could about the quarry I was going after. QDMA does just that. I see them as the authority on deer management. I call it management and not hunting because that is my overall goal for deer in the area of my property. Hunting becomes a tool in my management plan. Sure some people just want to go out and get a deer. I see no problem with that. Not everyone has a chunk of property or the time to establish and run a management program. But as a property owner surrounded by big woods, I feel a responsibility to the wildlife in my area other than just going out and getting a deer. I intend to improve the habitat and thereby improve the deer herd I hunt. This, in turn, gives my family a better return on the deer meat we harvest. In doing this, we work to improve the habitat for the deer and the other wildlife in the area. An important point to know is QDMA offers two courses for Deer Stewardship. Both classes are offered online and in person. Recently QDMA added two more classes that enhance education for deer management. One is for Predator Management, and the other is specifically for Land Management. Their website is full of information and great to get a start on becoming a well-rounded deer hunter. Please check out QDMA's website. https://www.qdma.com/